TWO TURBOS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
THE latest generation of the Ford Everest looks larger and muscular, which is accentuated by the rather squarish front design — just look at how squarish the hood is.
And the first thing that comes into one’s mind is moving such a large SUV needs a big engine, maybe with a displacement of at least 2.5 liters with one turbocharger. And maybe six cylinders?
Surprisingly, what is underneath the hood of the top-of-the-line Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 is a diesel engine that looks undersized for the hefty SUV: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
Looking at the what is underneath the hood, however, will reveal what makes the 2.0-liter diesel unit of the Everest Titanium 4x4 an engineering marvel: a bi-turbo system that allows the modestlysized engine to generate an impressive 210 hp at 3,750 rpm and a whopping 500 nm of torque at low 1,750 to 2,000 rpm.
The bi-turbo system of the Everest Titanium 4x4, however, should not be confused with a double turbo system, as the latter has two uniformly-sized turbochargers separately force-feeding the engine. The latter setup is more popular in the after-market scene.
On the other hand, the bi-turbo system of the Everest Titanium utilizes one larger (or regular sized) turbo and a smaller turbo, with the latter kicking at lower engine speeds. And at higher engine speeds, the bigger turbo kicks in. Hence, the bi-turbo system allows for the delivery of flatter or more linear torque delivery, which is evidenced by its impressive horsepower and torque figures.
Meanwhile, the Everest Titanium 4x2 with a 2.0-liter engine armed with only one turbocharger generates 170 hp at 3,500 rpm and 405 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. This means that the bi-turbo system also helps generate more torque, and who would not want that?
Another company that has made gains in developing a bi-turbo system is BMW, which has successfully patented a system that employs one smaller turbo that is electric driven. So don’t be surprised that in the future there will be more cars with diesel and petrol engines that have smaller displacements employing bi-turbos with the smaller turbocharger driven by exhaust gases or an electric motor.
Response and high-end power
So, how does the 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine of the Everest Titanium 4x4 deliver? Linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the bi-turbo diesel engine is capable of moving the hefty Everest Titanium 4x4 almost flawlessly from low to high speeds. And gone is the slight lag you would expect from a diesel with just one turbo.
From a standstill, a slight pressing of the gas pedal can send the Everest Titanium 4x4 Titanium galloping like a stallion suddenly let loose. And stabbing the gas pedal makes going from 40 to 100 kph quite an exhilarating experience.
Furthermore, the bi-turbo engine gets Everest Titanium 4x4 from 100 to 120 kph, or 80 to 120 kph without any hitch — there’s no lag and the power delivery is very linear. At those speeds, remember that the two turbos work in tandem, giving the almost miniscule 2.0-liter engine gobs of power and torque. Be reminded that the engine is capable of delivering a whopping 500 Nm of torque at a low 1,750 to 2,000 rpm.
The bi-turbo engine of the Everest Titanium 4x4 proves that large displacement is not the king when it comes to generating power — forced induction and a host of electronic controls are also keys to generating those high horsepower and torque figures.
In fact, the bi-turbo engine of the Everest Titanium 4x4 sets a new benchmark when it comes to developing and offering diesel engines for SUVs and pickup trucks. It would be interesting to see how the competition will respond.